Poems by the most deservedly admired Mrs. Katherine Philips, the matchless Orinda ; to which is added Monsieur Corneille's Pompey & Horace, tragedies ; with several other translations out of French.

Rosania to Lucasia on her Letters.

AH strike outright, or else forbear, Be more kind, or more severe; For in this checquer'd mixture I Cannot live, and would not die, And must I neither? tell me why?

When thy Pen thy kindness tells, My heart transported leaps and swells.

But when my greedy eye does stray Thy threat'ned absence to survey, That heart is struck and faints away.

To give me title to rich land, And the fruition to withstand, Or solemnly to send the key Of treasures I must never see, Would it contempt or bounty be?

This is such refin'd distress, That thy sad Lovers sigh for less, Though thou their hopes hast overthrown, They lose but what they ne're have known, But I am plunder'd from my own.

How canst thou thy Rosania prize, And be so cruel and so wise? For if such rigid policy Must thy resolves dispute with me, Where then is friendship's victory?

Kindness is of so brave a make 'Twil rather death then bondage take, So that if thine no power can have, Give it and me one common grave, But quickly either kill or save.